News and analysis:
Chronicle Database Shows How Lucrative Mar-a-Lago Events Can Be

News and analysis
August 11, 2017

Chronicle Database Shows How Lucrative Mar-a-Lago Events Can Be

By Clairissa Baker and Timothy Sandoval

Mar-a-Lago, President Trump’s lavish Florida estate, is a top venue for charity galas, balls, luncheons, and other fundraising events. That’s because many wealthy snowbirds flock each winter to Palm Beach, the resort town where the property is located, and charities compete to attract their donations.

Permit data compiled by The Chronicle suggests just how lucrative those events can be.

The data covers more than 230 applications filed with the Town of Palm Beach since 2008 by charities seeking to rent Mar-a-Lago. Seventeen groups applying for permits this year reported raising more than $100,000 after expenses at events in 2016, with several netting more than $500,000.

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(Most of the 230-plus permits are for a single event at Mar-a-Lago, but some might include fundraising totals from additional gatherings at the Trump property or other Palm Beach venues. All reflect at least one Mar-a-Lago event.)

Below is data from nine years’ worth of requests by charities to use Mar-a-Lago. The permits show the estimated fundraising total and costs for planned events at Mar-a-Lago and how much the charity raised and spent at such events (and, for some groups, perhaps at other Palm Beach venues) in the prior year.

The data was compiled by Clairissa Baker, a journalist with the Investigative Reporting Workshop at American University, who obtained the permits from the Town of Palm Beach through a public-records request.

* Blank cells in these columns (denoted by "--") mean the organization left this field blank on its permit or entered "0."

** Real results, not estimates.

Notes: Some permits’ estimated and actual fundraising totals may refer to more than one event held at Mar-a-Lago, or at a Mar-a-Lago event plus other gatherings at a different venues in Palm Beach. Most, however, refer to a single event held at Mr. Trump’s estate.

Estimated and actual costs for the events might include services not provided by Mar-a-Lago, such as outside promotion and entertainment. Names of charities and data are as they appear on the fundraising permits.

Clairissa Baker contributed reporting through the Investigative Reporting Workshop at American University. Timothy Sandoval is a reporter for The Chronicle. Send an email to Mr. Sandoval.